 Are there any additional costs? Does my camper need money for anything? |
| Once your bill is paid and your camper is checked in, YMCA Camp Letts’ fees are all inclusive. Your camper will not need to bring money with them, as all expenses have already been covered. We strongly suggest you set up a Camp Store account, so your camper can buy camp souvenirs and snacks. You can call the office to add more funds to this account at any time during your camper’s session. |
| Can I have contact with my camper while they are at Camp? Is there a visitation day? |
| There are multiple ways that you can have contact with your camper while they are at camp. You can send mail by U.S. Mail or drop off mail for the whole week on Check-In day. You can also send e-mails through Bunk1.com. Care packages are encouraged, but absolutely no food is allowed in them. Your child will not be able to call you, and we are not able to bring them to the phone. We will handle emergency situations on a case by case basis. Cell phones are strictly forbidden at Camp and should be left at home. We do not have visitation days for overnight campers. |
| How are your staff trained and what is the ratio of campers to counselors? |
| Staff members are trained during a seven day intensive training before camp starts. Training covers all areas necessary for the staff to perform their individual jobs. Staff members are observed during the training sessions to make sure that they are a good fit. In the cabins and program areas, there is a minimum of 1 counselor to 6 campers. During specialty classes, we maintain a ratio of 1 staff member to every 4 campers. Campers are always supervised, with special attention being put on potential problem areas such as the bathrooms. We take the safety and supervision of your camper very seriously at YMCA Camp Letts. |
| How do I communicate to the counselors about my child’s fear of thunderstorms? |
| After you register your child for Camp, you will complete a parent/counselor confidential form. This is the perfect opportunity to let us know of any phobias or special circumstances (bedwetting) for your child. We have a behavior specialist that reviews all the forms before campers arrive and will be able to work with the counselors and you to provide the best experience possible for your child. |
| How do you decide who gets what activities? |
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Campers choose their own activities at the beginning of each week. YMCA Camp Letts holds a weekly Camper Fair where campers learn about the activities being offered and then sign up for their favorite choices. Some of our program choices have extra fees associated, these Add-On programs have already been scheduled for the campers and their sign-up sheets reflect this. |
| How do you handle homesickness? |
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Homesickness is one of the most common things that we deal with at camp. All staff members are trained on how to help campers through the feelings of homesickness. Homesickness usually subsides after the first night or so. We help the campers live in the here and now and accept the feelings they are experiencing, but also show them how to put them aside so they don’t interfere with the fun that they could have at camp. Please note, calling home makes the feelings of homesickness worse in most cases. We also ask that parents don’t promise their campers that they will come and pick up their child if they are not having fun. This gives the camper an out and doesn’t allow camp staff to help the camper through the homesickness and deprives them of the camp experience. If a camper continues to be homesick, families will be contacted to bring them into the counseling process. |
| How often will I hear from my camper? |
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We encourage campers to write home during Siesta or cabin activities, but we suggest you send them with pre-addressed and stamped postcards or envelopes and ask them to write you. When letters are completed and sealed campers give them to their counselors to post and mail. Keep in mind sometimes they are having so much fun that they just forget to write. |
| Is there a medical staff at the camp? What happens if my child gets sick? |
| Safety is something that we take very seriously at YMCA Camp Letts. We have trained medical staff on grounds at all times, with an RN and physician on call 24 hours a day. Maryland state licensed medical staff are responsible for giving all medication and treating any injuries or physical problems that should arise during your camper’s stay. Campers who have Epipens, inhalers or other medication for immediate administration can carry those items with them at all times. We have isolation rooms in the Health Center in case a camper needs to be pulled from their cabin to recover (i.e. fever, severe vomiting, diarrhea, or other contagious condition). Any time that your camper is held overnight, has to visit the nurse multiple times for the same problem, has to be seen by a physician, or gets a prescription, you will be notified. We work closely with our camper’s families, and we stay in constant contact with them when medical situations occur. |
| The YMCA is a Christian Organization. How religious is Camp? |
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YMCA Camp Letts is a non-denominational summer camp. We welcome and regularly enroll campers from all religious backgrounds. Camp Letts’ character building program is based on the core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility inherent to all faiths. |
| What are the cabins like? |
| YMCA Camp Letts has two different types of summer cabins. The majority of our campers stay in simple modern cabins. Each cabin is carpeted, has indoor bathrooms and showers, modern electrical outlets, and built-in bunk beds. Our oldest teen boys live in our Rustics Crew, which has old fashioned camp cabins with bunk beds and basic electricity. These boys shower in the camp shower house and use the pool house bathrooms in the evening. |
| What general programs do you offer at YMCA Camp Letts overnight camp? |
| YMCA Camp Letts offers a wide variety of programs including horseback riding, swimming, sailing, water skiing, arts and crafts, fashion design, jewelry design, ceramics, archery, high ropes, zip line, soccer, rugby, basketball, guitar, hiking, cooking, paintball, martial arts, volleyball, sea sled and more! Some of the programs we offer are for an additional fee. Please take a look at the Camp brochure for more information. |
| What is the physical environment like? How is the weather during the summer? |
| YMCA Camp Letts is located on a 219-acre wooded peninsula on a protected cove of the Chesapeake Bay. Weather during the summer tends to be hot and humid with highs in the 80s and 90s. It is not unusual for us to have occasional storms. We continue with programming if it is just raining, but move everything indoors if we start to experience lightning. |
| What is the process used for hiring counselors and doing background checks on them? |
| Staff are thoroughly screened and background checked before working with children. The staff member has to fill out a lengthy application that includes disclosure of criminal history and a complete background check that includes research from state, federal, and sexual offender databases. Three references are also checked on every candidate. Each applicant has to go through a personal interview with one of the camp administrative staff. Once the applicant has passed all of these steps, an employment offer can be extended. Staff members are continually observed during their employment to make sure that they are continuing to exhibit the level of professionalism that was portrayed during the interview process. All staff attend an intensive staff training program and are first aid and CPR certified. |
| What kind of food is served? What about special dietary needs? |
| YMCA Camp Letts’ food is served both buffet and family style in our Dining Hall. Buffet breakfasts consist of either eggs, pancakes, or French toast with other breakfast sides. A cereal bar and fresh fruit is also served at every breakfast. Lunches are served family style and offer grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, soft tacos, etc. We also offer a complete salad bar with lunch. For dinner, also served family style, we offer a variety of delicious items such as chicken legs, pasta, ham, turkey, etc. All dinners are also served with vegetables and other sides that compliment the main dish, as well as our new expansive salad bar.
For campers who have special dietary needs, we have several options available. A vegetarian option is available at every meal. Those who have allergies or other limitations will have to call and talk to our Health Center and food service manager to work out a specific plan for your camper. In severe cases, we strongly encourage families to give camp as much information as possible so we can work with you to design a safe and successful camp experience. |
| Will my child be in a cabin with "friends" his/her age? What kind of spread of ages is there within the cabins? |
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We encourage you to put cabin mate requests on the application. We do look at those and are able to honor the majority of them. As we group the cabins by age, it is very difficult to honor a cabin mate request if the campers are more than one year apart. |